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Project

Olefin functionalisation with CO2 via in situ reduction through concerted action of homogeneous and zeolite catalysts

There is an urgent need to reorient the chemical industry towards utilizing CO2 as a carbon feedstock, while sparingly using the hydrogen gained from renewable resources like wind. With just one H2 per CO2, CO2 can be transformed to CO, as a highly versatile building block to introduce oxygen functionality. However, the hydrogenation of CO2 to CO (Reverse Water Gas Shift Reaction, RWGSR) requires high temperatures due to the unfavourable equilibrium. Here we aim at shifting this equilibrium by immediately consuming the CO formed in a consecutive, homogeneously catalyzed reaction with an olefin, to form e.g. esters. This should allow to perform the reaction at moderate temperatures (150-200 C). Thus the RWGSR and the olefin functionalization must be made operational and compatible in one pot. To realize this, the RWGSR function is installed in a narrow-pore zeolite host, to which the homogeneous catalyst and the olefin have no access, but CO2 and H2 have. This shields the olefin from unwanted hydrogenation. Much attention is focused on the careful design of the zeolite RWGSR catalyst, and to its characterization. The key proof-of-concept is to unite both reactions in one pot, opening up a range of CO2-tochemicals reactions. The system’s kinetics are thoroughly analyzed to understand the interplay of both reactions. Eventually, we will extrapolate the concept to formation of polyketones and hydroformylation products, relevant to base or fine chemistry.

Date:1 Oct 2021 →  Today
Keywords:CO2 utilization, Catalysis, Zeolite
Disciplines:Heterogeneous catalysis, Homogeneous catalysis
Project type:PhD project